Whitechapel - The Death of the US Space Program2015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/
Lussumo Vanilla & Feed Publisher
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=295996#Comment_2959962011-05-27T22:57:08-05:002011-05-27T22:58:07-05:00agentarsenichttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=2955
Yes, I know there's a supply shuttle set to go up in July, but right now is the last flight of the endeavor. The crew of the Endeavor just completed what is to be the last space walk from a US ...
When I was a kid of about four my mom was a soldier at an Air Force Base. She used to bring to her work sometimes so I could watch the military aircraft come and go. My mom said if I was lucky I'd get to see a space shuttle, which she probably told me so I wouldn't put up a fight about sitting around a boring motor pool office - because Ohio isn't space capitol of the world or anything. She bought some amazing posters featuring the crews of America's spaceflight history that hung on my wall for years. I never got tired of looking at them, it just seemed a given that this wonderful exploration and these amazing people would be going to the stars forever.

Anyway - I'm starting to feel down now that the cutoff time for American spaceflight is ticking down the last few seconds. What are your feelings/thoughts/memories on American spaceflight?]]>
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296001#Comment_2960012011-05-27T23:21:27-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00StefanJhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=961
I'm old enough to remember a similar dry patch, between the end of the Skylab missions and the first shuttle flights. What made it all the more excruciating was that this was the era of the L-5 ...
When the economy has recovered a bit, politicians will start making noise about the importance of beating the Chinese to Mars, thus increasing spending and getting the manned program back on the front burner.]]>
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296006#Comment_2960062011-05-28T01:39:12-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00Morachttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=10266
Fortunately, privatized space flight does seem to be making some headway. It would be nice if human expansion into space wasn't completely reliant on the same budget that is funding military efforts ...
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296010#Comment_2960102011-05-28T02:58:20-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00justinpickardhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=7351
America might be out of the game, but the rest of us are slowly stepping up. British spaceplane:
British spaceplane:

]]>
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296029#Comment_2960292011-05-28T07:13:00-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00256http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=4827
Important to remember that the US' space program isn't just human spaceflight.
Right now, NASA has active space probes:
MESSENGER in orbit around Mercury
Cassini in orbit around Saturn
Mars ...
Right now, NASA has active space probes:MESSENGER in orbit around Mercury Cassini in orbit around SaturnMars Reconnaissance Orbiter which is, yep, orbiting MarsLunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, figure it outWIND in orbit around the SunSOHO in orbit around the SunACE in orbit around the SunSTEREO A & B in orbit around the SunThree THEMIS probes around the sun, and two (renamed ARTEMIS) moved to lunar orbit plusNew Horizons on the way to PlutoDawn on the way to the asteroid Vesta and, of course, Voyager I & II, and Deep Impact are still out there, heading out of the solar system.

This doesn't include any of the Earth orbiting NASA satellites, of which there are a huge number.

But I don't blame people for not knowing or caring about these missions, because NASA do an absolutely shocking job of managing their public relations. The collective web presence of these missions is a horrendous mishmash of outdated, ugly, unconnected sites. There's also a real problem with audience - they seem to pitch to pre-highschool ("Mars activity sheets!"), or post-doctorate ("ftp raw data here"), and nothing in between.

This is something they really, really need to sort out.

Honestly, they could just employ one person, give them access to everything that's coming in from the entire probe fleet, and pick out a few of the prettier pictures to put them on a blog somewhere. Is there a fuckyeahNASA.tumblr.com yet?

Also, @justinpickard:

That is a penis.]]>
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296032#Comment_2960322011-05-28T07:35:00-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00Slickhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=5354
A mighty British Space Penis
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296078#Comment_2960782011-05-28T19:04:32-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00John Skylarhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=8976
I think it's a bit early to say this is the "death" of the US space program. In fact I think it's a bit early to call this anything more than a tactical retreat.
There's also the ...
There's also the Lockheed Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, designed for so-called "deep space" missions (in this case "deep space" means "beyond the moon" or "to Mars"). Read about it here.

Or, let's consider the Dragon Capsule, which has been contracted for cargo delivery to the ISS.

Manned spaceflight from the US is in a transition period. It's not dead.

That doesn't mean it can't still die, and I'm sure there are people who will say either of these projects will be canceled, but nobody can predict the future. They're moving forward, and that's the plan.]]>
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296082#Comment_2960822011-05-28T20:16:54-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00LokiZerohttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=368
@justinpickard Two tickets to board your British Spacepenis, please.
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296090#Comment_2960902011-05-28T22:37:53-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00Fanhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=6919
> What are your feelings/thoughts/memories on American spaceflight?
It's not about America: it's about people, and space. I'd be no less happy if it were the Chinese space program ... or (less ...
What are your feelings/thoughts/memories on American spaceflight?

It's not about America: it's about people, and space. I'd be no less happy if it were the Chinese space program ... or (less likely) dogs.]]>
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296168#Comment_2961682011-05-29T22:41:00-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00Greasemonkeyhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=4625
I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought the Brit spaceplane looked like a gigantic cock and balls.
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296170#Comment_2961702011-05-29T23:05:32-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00Jamie Heronhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=9334
@256: Muhuahahahahahahaha...
Though to be perfectly honest it doesn't look all that exciting, and it hasn't been updated in over a year. :(
Muhuahahahahahahaha...

Though to be perfectly honest it doesn't look all that exciting, and it hasn't been updated in over a year. :(]]>
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296172#Comment_2961722011-05-30T00:02:17-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00ScottBieserhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=477
I'm not sure what to make of the fact that this purported British spaceplane looks like a large, black cock and balls. Probably nothing.
I have long been a fan of manned space travel, and co-write ...
black cock and balls. Probably nothing.

I have long been a fan of manned space travel, and co-write a "hard sf" web-comic strip concerning same, but the more I learn about the challenges involved the more I start to think that before we can get very far from Earth orbit, humans themselves -- or at least, those who do the traveling, will have to change in fundamental physiological ways. The problems of bone and muscle degeneration in microgravity, the radiation hazards, the huge cost (in terms of mass) of necessary life-support systems, the lengthy travel times to get even as far as Mars, may mean that we need to develop a new sort of human -- homo coelus peregrinans? -- adapted to an environment of low gravity, high radiation, and requiring far lower amounts of oxygen and water than we do. Or at the extreme, to become machines -- human consciousness uploaded into an artificial brain controlling a metal body.

Unless, of course, we have some fairly enormous break-throughs in areas like propulsion, artificial gravity, chemical and elemental transmutation, and radiation shielding. None of us can know what the future will bring, but I doubt I'll see any of this in my lifetime, and probably not in the lifetime of most people here, either.

Just the same, it's still fun to dream about.]]>
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296233#Comment_2962332011-05-30T16:53:08-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00warrenellishttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=2
I'm not sure what to make of the fact that this purported British spaceplane looks like a large, black cock and balls.
Multiculturalism in action.
I'm not sure what to make of the fact that this purported British spaceplane looks like a large, black cock and balls.

Multiculturalism in action.]]>
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296237#Comment_2962372011-05-30T17:24:15-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00mister hexhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=4411
@ warrenellis - makes then end of Ministry of Space somewhat ironic, then.
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296248#Comment_2962482011-05-30T20:09:33-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00StefanJhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=961
Unless, of course, we have some fairly enormous break-throughs in areas like propulsion, artificial gravity, chemical and elemental transmutation, and radiation shielding.
Amen. Space travel ...
Unless, of course, we have some fairly enormous break-throughs in areas like propulsion, artificial gravity, chemical and elemental transmutation, and radiation shielding.

Amen. Space travel isn't easy. It won't be cheap.

As a teen I dug the quasi-religious space boosterism of guys like Bova, Pournelle, Niven and Baen. A confused mix of free enterprise is the answer and why isn't the government funding the space program more? and rousing rhetoric like all we need is imagination and nerve.

Ungggh.

I want a space program. To some extent we need one. But I'm not holding my breath for any flashy mission action any time soon.]]>
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296274#Comment_2962742011-05-31T06:35:05-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00Dickeyhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=8703
@ 256 & Jamie Heron
My name's Brian, been a lurker around this board for a bit and saw your post re: the NASA tumblr. Quickly afterwards I contacted the gentleman who ran it and it turns out ...
My name's Brian, been a lurker around this board for a bit and saw your post re: the NASA tumblr. Quickly afterwards I contacted the gentleman who ran it and it turns out he hasn't had time to throw up images on there. But he added me to the group, so posting to should be happening on a far more regular basis.

I work for a NASA contractor (primarily in the proposal dept for new contracts) so I have unique info I would love to share, but am unsure about how far my NDA extends on what I know through the company. Until then I'll probably be posting more generic-ish. However, if anybody on this thread has any kind of topic area/subject matter they'd like me to highlight, then please let me know.]]>
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296278#Comment_2962782011-05-31T07:47:41-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00Oddculthttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=214
There's been someone occasionally chucking out pictures of British Spaceplanes since I was a kid. I remember getting very excited about HOTOL.
And look... just look at the pictures on the website ...
And look... just look at the pictures on the website - someone's just traced the Anastasia and coloured it in black. This isn't a real spacecraft programme! And all this press release is just saying is 'weeeelll... we think it *should* work. But fucked if I know how we're going to afford to get it beyond the photoshop stage.'

Sorry to be a downer, but the British Space Programme is never going to get out of the white vest, put down the can of Stella and stop beating me, then crying when I say I don't believe it'll change and am leaving, much as I want to believe in it.]]>
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296327#Comment_2963272011-05-31T16:40:06-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00agentarsenichttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=2955
@Dickey
fuckyeahdickeymakethatshithappen
fuckyeahdickeymakethatshithappen]]>
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296393#Comment_2963932011-06-01T01:37:14-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00Jamie Heronhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=9334
@Dickey: Thank you, lots of thank you's, with a few fuck yeahs thrown in
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296574#Comment_2965742011-06-02T12:42:02-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00Bombus Hortorushttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=2485
I don't know if it's possible to make a non-phallic space vehicle? Not one that's got to get itself into orbit anyhow...
Feels really sad watching the shuttles retire. An uncle has worked on the ...
Feels really sad watching the shuttles retire. An uncle has worked on the programme for 27 years, so it's a huge upheaval for him and his family - they're having to relocate from New Orleans to Sunnyvale. It kind of feels too like a glitch in progress - that we're retreating, sinking back down to an Earth that we're busily wrecking. I really hope that's not true, and we will keep moving forward and outward.]]>
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296579#Comment_2965792011-06-02T12:53:00-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00BOODOFFSTAGEhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=914
So let me get this straight,
The large, black flying cock will have an engine that runs on air and has the power to propel it into low earth orbit. That sounds incredible to me. Having engines ...
The large, black flying cock will have an engine that runs on air and has the power to propel it into low earth orbit. That sounds incredible to me. Having engines that run on air would certainly help our world energy crisis, wouldn't it?

Unless, this engine is going to cost a bajillion dollars and will need the critical element of Unobtanium.]]>
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296684#Comment_2966842011-06-03T01:24:43-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00Oddculthttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=214
It doesn't quite run on air. It uses air as the oxidiser that causes the rest of the fuel to burn, rather than carrying it onboard in some form, which is what rockets usually do.
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296689#Comment_2966892011-06-03T02:17:56-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00Paul Duffieldhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=6
No one seems to be mentioning the fact that the spacecock also looks supremely evil and is called the SKYLON spaceplane. That's just taking the piss XD
Also, I second Fan. I don't really care if ...
Also, I second Fan. I don't really care if it's America specifically or not, in fact in some ways I think it's good that America will have to depend on other space agencies to deliver payloads. The exciting and powerful thing about space travel for me has always been how multi-national and co-operative it can be. More of that please!]]>
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296907#Comment_2969072011-06-04T22:38:45-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00agentarsenichttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=2955
@Paul
That's fine and all but we Americans were the first ones to go to the moon and release our Budweiser™ fueled spacepiss™ across it's cratered surface. If you don't believe me, don't ask ...
That's fine and all but we Americans were the first ones to go to the moon and release our Budweiser™ fueled spacepiss™ across it's cratered surface. If you don't believe me, don't ask Buzz Aldrin about it because he is known to punch doubters in the face even at the risk of his space radiated brittle bones.

In all seriousness - I'd love to see some worldwide unity in getting off the rock and out there. Indian, German, Chinese, whatever, let's keep doing the thing!

My original point is about the death of an era, sure there are spaceplanes from private companies and emerging economies busy blasting rockets, but none of them are the American program in it's heyday, and nothing will ever be again.]]>
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296908#Comment_2969082011-06-04T22:50:04-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00Greasemonkeyhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=4625
Buzz Aldrin Will Fuck You Up
Buzz Aldrin Will Fuck You Up]]>
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296909#Comment_2969092011-06-04T23:01:42-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00ScottBieserhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=477
Heh. Conduct unbecoming an officer, I suppose, but considering the enormous personal risk Aldrin and his comrades took in going to the Moon, eminently justifiable.
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296928#Comment_2969282011-06-05T06:52:49-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00Greasemonkeyhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=4625
Punching Bart Sibrel should be a legal requirement for everyone of voting age.
The Death of the US Space Programhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=9898&Focus=296991#Comment_2969912011-06-05T21:34:19-05:002015-08-02T15:33:00-05:00TypewriterJasonhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=4242
Watched a NASA video, basically a montage of the Endeavour launch, and got a little misty-eyed: http://slidesha.re/kDqJY2
It did get me thinking; this might be the end an era, but not the end of ...
It did get me thinking; this might be the end an era, but not the end of the journey. I'm naively optimistic that the private attempts to organize space flight will be good for us... (I work in theatre, another industry that you don't exactly go into for easy money.) It might also remove the last vestiges of nation states racing to outpace each other to colonize and control...

Anyway. Here's hoping we go back. And here's hoping that the million-dollar tickets to get on Richard Branson's space bus eventually become seat sales and discount packages. Tang included.